Do you think our city and other governments have climate change policies that really really really enthuse citizens?
Do you think that our governments would be glad to have at least one policy to combat global warming that does indeed entice thousands of ordinary people to take active steps to reduce global warming?
Think again!
I came up with the idea of having one of our major cities or a province or the federal government launch a global Eco-Nobel Prize, coupled with a global Eco-Lottery to fund the prizes and CO2 reducing projects, and offered it to them.
There were no takers.
If you think you can persuade any person in any level of government in Canada to adopt the idea, feel free to refer this to them and turn them loose!
And may the world be saved.
The full details of the idea are set out in my unsuccessful Proposal to the City of Vancouver, copied below.
PROPOSAL
FOR THE CITY OF VANCOUVER
TO ESTABLISH
AN INTERNATIONAL ECO-PRIZE & ECO-LOTTERY
PART ONE
- Empowerment of The Many:
In 1992 the Union of Concerned Scientists penned a World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity and sent copies to governmental leaders all over the world. The second warning in 2017 showed that little progress had been made.
The 1992 Warning stated that a new ethic was required to protect the fragile earth, and continued:
This ethic must motivate a great movement, convincing reluctant leaders and reluctant governments and reluctant peoples themselves to effect the needed changes. The scientists issuing this warning hope that our message will reach and affect people everywhere. We need the help of many.
It concluded:
We require the help of the world’s peoples. We call on all to join us in this task.
If the Proposal set out in this document is adopted by many major cities, it will help do what the 1992 Warningaimed at:
Creating a groundswell of organized grassroots efforts, exerting pressure on political leaders at all levels to do the right thing.
The essence of the GaiaHope Proposal is wide stakeholder engagement throughout the world in combatting global warming.
Because the Proposal is so personal for people, it will help them reduce their personal emissions, by changing their individual behaviours.
This Proposal provides:
- for the use of the performance measurement of steps taken to combat climate change,
and
- for actionable feedback from the citizens of the participating countries.
- Summary of the GaiaHope Eco-Prize & Eco-Lottery Concept:
| The proposal is for Vancouver to be the home of the eco-Nobel Prize of the world and to use people power worldwide to reduce global warming in cities using funds from an international eco-lottery. |
PART TWO
- Names of the eco-lottery and eco-prize:
As Gaia is the personification of the Earth, one possible name for the eco-prize could be the GaiaHope Eco-Prize, and the GaiaHope Eco-Lottery. The Sponsors will choose the final names.
- Sponsors of the Eco-Prize and Eco-Lottery:
The Proposal calls for the establishment, by the City of Vancouver and/or other organizations in B.C. (the “Sponsors”), of an eco-lottery and eco-prize.
This will be done in phases:
- starting in Vancouver,
